Going for the Glow: Bagnoregio Painting with Full Studio Process

By Mitchell Albala on December 19, 2023 Video Art Lessons

In 2019, when I was teaching in Italy, I had the good fortune of visiting the beautiful hilltop city of Bagnoregio. I recently finished a large painting of Bagnoregio, titled Citadel. In this video, I walk you through every step, from start to finish. I touch on all the key steps of a large studio painting: initial conception, compositional studies, notan, color studies, underpainting, and paint handling, along with an explanation of “tactile perspective.”

From the start, the main goal for me was to get this hilltop city to glow. I imagined a magnificent citadel, rising out of the valley floor, glowing brilliantly in the sunlight.

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About Author

Mitchell Albala

Mitchell Albala is an award-winning landscape painter, workshop instructor, and author. His semi-abstract and atmospheric landscapes have been exhibited nationally and are represented in corporate and private collections. He is the author of three popular books on landscape painting: "Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice (Watson-Guptill, 2009), with 70,000 copies in print; "The Landscape Painter's Workbook: Essential Studies in Shape, Composition, and Color" (Rockport Publishers, 2022), which has been the #1 selling book on landscape in the nation; and "New Lessons in Landscape Painting: Key Concepts and Exercises in Color and Composition" (Rockport Publishers, 2026). Mitchell leads painting workshops in the U.S. and has offered plein air adventures in Italy. He is also a master mentor with the online mentoring community Mastrius. He has lectured on Impressionism and landscape painting at the Seattle Art Museum and has written for International Artist and Artists & Illustrators magazines. Mitchell also hosts a popular painting blog, which hold the #11 spot on Feedspot.com's "90 Best Painting Blogs to Follow in 2026." He is a Signature member in both the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society.

10 Comments

Warren Simons on December 26, 2023 4:52 pm

Thanks Mitchell! Great little video full of painting wisdom.
Bernie Neff on December 26, 2023 5:52 pm

Great painting and tutorial, Mitch! Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Dena Peterson on December 26, 2023 7:48 pm

I love your approach to painting and the way you teach it! I have both your books and encourage my own students to read your blog. I’m seriously considering taking your “Beyond Representation” online class, as my own work is feeling a bit stagnant to me. Thank you for sharing so much!
Mitchell Albala on December 26, 2023 8:14 pm

Thanks, Dena. I love hearing that my processes and approaches are being shared by other instructors. I hope to see you in “Beyond Representation.”
Mitchell Albala on December 26, 2023 8:14 pm

Thanks for watching, Bernie. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Mitchell Albala on December 26, 2023 8:15 pm

Thanks, Warren. So glad you are “getting” what the video has to offer.
Liese on December 26, 2023 8:35 pm

That was fab! Always appreciate your thorough explanations of the thought process in these videos, your blog and your books.
Mitchell Albala on December 26, 2023 9:56 pm

Thank you, Liese. So glad you are finding benefit in the books and videos! Paint on!
Michael Kirkby on January 15, 2024 11:27 am

Hi, and thanks for this excellent video and your latest book. I keep dipping into it for reinforcement of ideas. Best wishes for a good 2024 from Northern England.
Mitchell Albala on January 15, 2024 5:12 pm

Thanks, Michael. I’m glad you liked the video, More to come. And best wishes to you for a creative 2024. – M